Fifty years ago, the Stonewall riots in New York’s Greenwich Village kicked off the modern pride movement. But eight years before that, the patrons of an unassuming gay bar in Milwaukee took a stand against intolerance and disrespect.

"The fact there was a sizeable LGBT community that was large enough to have their own spaces and large enough to fight back when those spaces were endangered, shocked Milwaukee like nothing else," says historian Michail Takach.

PrideFest Milwaukee kicks off today, starting Milwaukee's busy season of festivals along the lakefront. This year's PrideFest features bands like The B-52s and LGBT activists such as Danica Roem. But the festival is about more than national acts - it's also an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work.

Here in Milwaukee the true start of summer begins when the gates of the Henry Meier Summerfest grounds open. And for the past 30 years the festival to kick off the season has been PrideFest.

Over the course of this weekend, PrideFest will host many national and local performers - such as Betty Who, 10,000 Maniacs and Todrick Hall. While celebrating its 30th anniversary, the fest will also honor the many community leaders and programs that have contributed to Milwaukee's tradition of LGBTQ+ pride.

Despite the landmark Supreme Court ruling last year that legalized gay marriage, there still are many hurdles for the LGBTQ community to overcome. Some of these issues include adoption, housing rights, workplace equality and transgender rights.